New research from Gartner stated that tablet sales increased by 68 percent last year, with a total of 195.4 billion units sold. This is a considerable increase from 2012, when 116.3 tablets were sold.
Android was on the majority of tablets sold in 2013, capturing 62 percent of the overall market. Although iOS-based tablet sales grew in the fourth quarter last year, the operating system's overall market share declined by 36 percent. Gartner noted that Android was the top tablet operating systems sold, primarily due to low-end smaller screen offerings available.
However, IDC noted that the market may have reached its high point, causing analysts to lower projected growth rates for this year to 19.4 percent.
"As the Android tablet market becomes highly commoditized, in 2014, it will be critical for vendors to focus on device experience and meaningful technology and ecosystem value – beyond just hardware and cost – to ensure brand loyalty and improved margins," said Gartner research director Roberta Cozza.
Lenovo releases YOGA Tablet 10 HD+
One such organization contributing to Android tablet growth is Lenovo, which recently unveiled its newest Android tablet late last month, the YOGA Tablet 10 HD+. The new product builds upon the features users enjoyed on the original YOGA Tablet, and provides an overall improved design as well as Hold, Tilt and Stand Modes. The hardware features a full HD screen display, a high resolution camera and Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The tablet can also function for up to 18 hours with its new battery life capabilities.
Spice Retail Limited unveils Smart Flo Poise Mi 451 smartphone
India-based mobile Internet company Spice Retail Limited recently released its newest smartphone offering, the Smart Flo Poise Mi 451. The slim 8.7-millimeter device utilizes Android and includes a 1.3 GHz Dual Core processor. In addition, the hardware also features a 3.2 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, a 1.3 megapixel front camera and ultra bright 11.43-centimeter IPS display. Users can also utilize preloaded components like the Spice Cloud, G Sensors and a 3.5 mm jack.
HTC Desire 310
This week, HTC presented its newest smartphone that utilizes a MediaTek Inc. chipset: the HTC Desire 310. According to Focus Taiwan, this a considerable milestone for the chip supplier as the company works to partner with more vendors offering cost-efficient Android devices. The Desire 310 has a 4.5 inch screen display, a MediaTek MT6582M 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and a 5 megapixel camera. HTC's new smartphone comes with 4 gigabytes of internal storage and a micro-SD card expansion port providing up to 32 GB of external storage. The hardware will also include other popular HTC features like the BlinkFeed live-streaming home screen and Video Highlights.
The company also set a March 25 launch date for the release of the its newest flagship smartphone, the predecessor to the HTC One.
